Little hands, big voice: How BSL is empowering four-year-old Molly to embrace both deaf and hearing worlds
Little Molly Robins-Loftus wasn’t keen on learning BSL but now the four-year-old is regularly signing with her family – and her friends have started to learn too.
Molly has sensorineural hearing loss, a genetic condition she inherited from her mum Rachael, who is also severely deaf. They wear hearing aids which allow them to hear some sounds, but communication is difficult for both of them.
Rachel signed up for BSL classes shortly after Molly was born and she has been trying to teach her ever since.
But it was only during the Family Sign at Home classes that the channels of communication really opened up – partly because Molly’s seven-year-old sister Amelia joined in.
Now Molly not only understands signs, she has begun to use them herself.
Rachael explained: “Molly is very attached to her hearing aids and won’t even let me take them out at night until after she has gone to sleep.
“I signed up for classes for myself as soon as Molly was born, because I felt it was really important that she had access to language and communication.
“But it’s only since the family sessions that Molly has started to sign herself more confidently. They were the turning point really and they brought us all together. Amelia loves it and she is also really good at it.
“I really want Molly to be bilingual and able to live successfully in both the hearing and deaf worlds. It’s as much about embracing both cultures and identities as it is communicating, and I’m so pleased she’s started to use both.”
The impact has stretched beyond the immediate family too. Molly’s friends have started learning basic signs to communicate with her, turning playtime into a more inclusive and connected experience.
Rachael added: “It’s amazing what a difference it’s made. We can understand each other better, which means fewer frustrations and more fun. And seeing other children get involved makes me so hopeful for Molly’s future. It’s helped her feel seen and included.”
For the Robins-Loftus family, the sessions have not just been educational – they’ve been transformative. Rachael says the confidence boost Molly has received has made a huge difference in how she interacts with the world around her.
“She’s so proud to show off her signing now. What felt like a barrier before has turned into a bridge – and that’s all thanks to having the right support at the right time,” she said.
Rachael also hopes that access to early sign language learning becomes standard for other families in similar situations.
“If more parents and schools could offer this kind of support from the start, it would change lives,” she said. “It’s given us tools, confidence and a stronger bond – and every family deserves that chance.”